ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20050000380

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE CASE OF:

BOARD DATE: 01 NOVEMBER 2005

DOCKET NUMBER: AR20050000380

I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

Mr. Carl W. S. Chun / Director
Mr. Ronald DeNoia / Analyst

The following members, a quorum, were present:

Mr. James Anderholm / Chairperson
Mr. Thomas O’Shaughnessy / Member
Ms. Carol Kornhoff / Member

The Board considered the following evidence:

Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any).

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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20050000380

THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1. The applicant requests that his records be corrected to show 20 years of qualifying service for retired pay at age 60.

2. The applicant states that he extended his enlistment for 6 years on 14 March 1983, however it was discoveredthat he was on the Weight Control Program and ineligible to extend his enlistment. He states he was subsequently discharged without Chief, National Guard Bureau approval, and was denied the opportunity to qualify for 20-year retired pay.

3. The applicant provides a self-authored letter, dated 14 October 2004; a National Guard Bureau (NGB) 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service); Memorandum from the Georgia Military Division; State of Georgia Orders 71-10, dated 12 April 1983; DA Form 4836 (Oath of Extension of Enlistment or Reenlistment, dated 14 March 1983; NGB Form 23 (Retirement Credits Record); DA Form 2166-6 (EnlistedEvaluationReport); State of Georgia Orders 157-16, dated 18 August 1980; and DA Form 2-1 (Personal Qualification Record).

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1. The applicant is requesting correction of an alleged error or injustice which occurred on 12 April 1983. The application submitted in this case is dated 30December2004.

2. Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse failure to file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines that it would be in the interest of justice to do so. In this case, the ABCMR will conduct a review of the merits of the case to determine if it would be in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file.

3. The applicant's NGB Form 22 shows he enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard (GAARNG) on 16 March 1964 and was separated on 12 April 1983, in the grade of Master Sergeant/E8, with 19 years and 26 days of total service. His characterization of service was honorable.

4. The Memorandum from the Georgia Military Division, dated 5 April 1983directed that the commander determine whether the applicant did receive a favorable action while on the Weight Control Program, which is in violation of the regulation. The directive stated that ifthe favorable action is substantiated, the unit will take immediate action to discharge the applicant. State of Georgia Orders 71-10 dischargedthe applicant effective 12April 1983.

5.. The available records do not show any evidence that the GAARNG requested from the CNGB, in accordance with regulations, authority to extend the applicant until he reached 20 years of service.

6. The applicant's NGB Form 22 shows he was separatedunder the provisions of NGR 600-200 and 600-9 for failure to meet extension standards.

7. Army Regulation 600-9, provides, in pertinent part,that ARNG Soldiers who have completed a minimum of 18 years qualifying service for retired pay at age 60, may be extended for the minimum time required to complete 20 years qualifying service by the State TAG, disapproval authority is Chief, NGB.

8. National Guard Regulation 600-200 provides, in pertinent part, that the Chief, NGB, (CNGB) is the approval authority for the involuntary discharge of Soldiers from the ARNGUS who are within 2 years of completing service required to qualify for retired pay.

9. NGR 600-200 also provides that separation boards are required for all Soldiers with 18 or more years of service. This regulation further states that the Soldier may waive his right to appear before the board, however, the board must be held and the Soldier'sinterest must be represented by counsel.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1. The applicant was discharged with 19 years and 26 days of qualifying service. His intention at that time was to remain an active National Guard Soldier, as evidence by his 6 year extension of enlistment.

2. He was flagged for being in the Weight Control Program which prohibits receipt of favorable personnel actions, and his extension of enlistment nullified.However, by virtue of his having completed over 18 years of qualifying service, in accordance with regulations, he was entitled to be extended for 11months and 4 days in order to complete 20 years of qualifying service.

3. There is no evidence that the GAARNG prepared and presented a request for extension to the CNGB, or that a separation board was held, which would have allowed the applicant to qualify for retired pay at age 60. Since the directive from the Military Division was dated 5 April 1983 and the discharge orders were issued on 12 April 1983 it is reasonable to assume, considering the time frame, that the request to CNGB was not initiated.

4. In view of the above it would be appropriate to correct the applicant's records to extend his date of discharge to show he completed 20 years of qualifying service for retired pay at age 60.

5. The applicant's NGB Form 23 shows that he accruedthe following retirement points during his last 3 years of service:

AssemblyMembership Active Duty Total

1980-1981 46 15 19 80

1981-1982 48 15 29 92

1982-1983 48 15 2 65

Total 237

6. The average points per year accrued during this period was 47assembly points, 15 membership points and 17 active duty points for a yearly total of 79points. Therefore, it would be appropriate to credit the applicant with these retirement points for his final year of service.

7. Although, Soldiers are required to apply for retirement pay, the applicant was prohibited from doing so because his erroneous records did not reflect the required qualifying service time. Therefore, since this error was caused by no fault of the applicant, he is entitled to retroactive retirement paycommencing on his 60th birthday.

BOARD VOTE:

____AJ__ __TO ______CK __ GRANT FULL RELIEF

______GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

______GRANT FORMAL HEARING

______DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The Board determined that the evidence presented was sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief and to excuse failure to timely file. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by:

a. extending his enlistment for 11 months and 4 days to allow him to attain 20 years qualifying service for retired pay at age 60,

b. credit for 79 retirement points for his final year of service, and

c. retroactive retirement pay commencing on 19 January 2003, the applicant's 60th birthday.

_____James Anderhom______

CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID / AR20050000380
SUFFIX
RECON
DATE BOARDED / 20051101
TYPE OF DISCHARGE
DATE OF DISCHARGE
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY
DISCHARGE REASON
BOARD DECISION / GRANT
REVIEW AUTHORITY
ISSUES 1. / 100.0000.0000
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

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